Pre-War Gibson Mandolin Tailpieces - Reason for Hook Design

[Joe Spann]

This clip is taken from the June 1917 issue of Gibson's Sounding Board Salesman.

The reason for the hook design is revealed....

161980

[MikeEdgerton]

It's good to have that to refer to. It probably gets asked a few times a year. I generally refer them to Frank Ford's page (http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Mandolin/MandoString/mandostring1.html) on www.frets.com. This is actually pretty in depth. Pretty cool.

[Timbofood]

I knew that from my early days of joining the mandolin addicted.
It’s very nice to see that reprinted here. Thanks, Mr. Spann!

[fatt-dad]

I like the extra chads for the unwound strings too. Keeps them from escaping the tailpiece when I'm stringing the peghead.

Interesting copy!

f-d

[allenhopkins]

Apparently the windings of string loops used to loosen more frequently then, though I've wondered why the tailpiece was designed to avoid this only on the 1st and 2nd courses; surely the loops on the 3rd and 4th could have failed as well.

This problem is not unheard of today, but probably not a common one. I know mandolinists with the "12-prong" tailpiece who just hook their 1st and 2nd strings on the "front" prongs, and ignore the four in the back at the 90º angle. I always use the back prongs, as a salute to tradition, but I probably don't need to.

And what's that "equalization of tension" that's a "string saver," according to the catalog copy, and how is that facilitated by the extra prongs? If someone can decipher that language, please feel free to share.

[Timbofood]

The reason for the “turn” is not done on the bass side is that the winding on the G and D strings goes over the twist and the chance to that all failing is pretty low.
At least that’s how it was explained to me when I first looked at the TP and thought “WTF”?

[HonketyHank]

...

And what's that "equalization of tension" that's a "string saver," according to the catalog copy, and how is that facilitated by the extra prongs? If someone can decipher that language, please feel free to share.

When I saw that in the OP, I went "whaaaaaaaat?". Maybe the prong prevents the metal in the string from crystallizing from all the focused tension created by always picking near the bridge and never picking up at the nut.:disbelief::cow::whistling:

[Dave Hanson]

with good quality modern strings the extra hooks are just an extra point of stress, which you don't need IMHO

Dave H

[Mandoplumb]

with good quality modern strings the extra hooks are just an extra point of stress, which you don't need IMHO Dave H

Wouldn't the actual stress remain constant, using the extra hooks would just split the stress points?

[William Smith]

I've always used the old method in the original sheet for some reason, I believe my gramps showed me how to string up a mando so the tradition must go on.

[pops1]

I do it too, while it is seldom I have had plain strings slip. Besides I like the way it looks, call me weird.

[Louise NM]

I have a tailpiece with the extra hooks, and couldn't figure out what the heck they were for! (Someone told me a month or so ago.) The instrument was strung without using them when I got it, and I have continued with that method.

The Frank Ford link says that if you don't use them ". . . you'll be missing just a little of the old-time flavor." Is he implying that it changes the tone at all? Or just that you'll miss out on fooling with four extra hooks to catch, and that doing things in a more complicated way is an exercise in character-building?

[MikeEdgerton]

It's implying that you'll miss doing it the traditional way, it won't affect the sound.

[allenhopkins]

How did Bill Monroe do it? We hafta know...

[j. condino]

snakeoil......

[Tobin]

And what's that "equalization of tension" that's a "string saver," according to the catalog copy, and how is that facilitated by the extra prongs? If someone can decipher that language, please feel free to share.

I think there's a quote that is relevant here:

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull****." - W.C. Fields

[MikeEdgerton]

snakeoil......

A solution for a problem that probably wasn't a problem. I get that.

[Timbofood]

“If there isn’t a problem, might as well make one, then you can realize a profit!”
Sorry, that’s a bit synical.
I do use them all though, as much as a connection to the past as I’m likely to get.

[mandroid]

Some of the Neutone UK mandolin strings are using the raveling prone loop forming technique,
as of a few years ago..

Spares in the case when I biught my Hodson D'Jangolin.. and they did come undone.


:whistling: